Sound-box.



H. C. MILLER. .SOUND BOX.

APPLICATION FILED MAY l, 1906.

Patented Jan. 12,;1915.

H. C. MILLER.l

ASOUND BOX. APPLIOATION FILED En 1, 1906.

Patenteaaan. 12, 1915.

2 SHEBTS-SHEBT 2.

HENRY C. MILLER, OF WATERFORD, NEW YORK.

SOUND-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patnmgd Jan, 112, 119315,

Application filed May 1, 1906. Serial No. $14,659:.y

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HENRY C. Mmm, a citizen of the United States,residing at Waterford, in the county of Saratoga and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sound- Boxes, ofwhich the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to improvements in sound boxes for talkingmachines, of the type shown in my Patent No. 793,012, dated f June 20,1905.

Those familial' with this art and With present 'talking machines findthe sound produced is deficient in quality, in that it is harsh andunnatural. rlhese differences exist particularly with musicalselections. I attribute these difficulties to the imperfectconstruction, and the imperfections in material, principally of theparts constituting the sound box. The defects are furthermore presentbecause of the necessity of limiting the diameter of the diaphragms, onaccount of the inherent difliculties in securing suitable materiall ofabsolutely homogeneous character.

It is my purpose to improve the sound box by using a Wooden diaphragm,applying a tuning or modifying element, employing a stylus lever and barof hard rubber or like non-conducting material, and means for adjustingand regulating the diaphragm. By these various details of construction adiaphragm of larger area than commonly used may be employed; the desiredpitch may be obtained; range of power and compass increased and thequality of sound.

improved, so that the several musical in`- struments and voices recordedon a record can be distinguished.

I also find that a sound box of the general structure indicated,prevents interference of sound, and in a large measure harsh sounds areobviated.

The diaphragm adjustment also permits an operator to regulate thediaphragm to suit individual taste, according to the specialcharacteristics of a selected piece being reproduced.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter referred to andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

ln the drawings-Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved sound box,parts being shown in section. Fig.2 is -an enlarged vertical transversesection on the line -zvof Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail verticaltransverse section of the sound box. Fig. 4 is a detail view of aspider. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing theWashers-compressed. Fig. 6 is a detail view of a slight modification.Figs. 7 and 8 .are detail views of means for securing the stylus leverto the diaphragm.

Fig. 9 is a face view of the sound box shoW- ing a different arrangementof attachingv the modifying elements thereto. Fig. 10 is a face View ofthe diaphragm showing modifying elements of diiferent formation.

Figs. 11 and 12 are detail views of .a special form of modifyingelement. Fig. 13 is a View showing the-invention in lconnection with ahorn. Fig. 14: is a detail sectional vievv of the means employed foraltering the pitch of the diaphragm. Fig. 15 is a detail elevation ofthe same. Fig. 16 is a detail view of a slight modification.

The numeral 1, indicates a sound box formed in its periphery with anopening 2; interior fiange 3; bearings 4, and 5; and .j

internal threads 6.

Bearing against. one face of the flange 3, is the flat surface of apreferably rubber Washer 7, beveled on its opposite face 'at 8, to bearon the outer face of a Wooden diaphragm 9.

A Washer l0, similar to Washer 7, bears on the opposite side of thediaphragm 9, and holds the same relative position to the diaphragm asWasher 7. That is, its beveled surface 11, bears on the diaphragm, Whileits fiat face 12, co-acts with a spider 13. 0n the other side of spider13, is a rubber washer 14, and bearing directly on said latter Washer isthe flange of a cover plate 15, threaded to engage the threads 6, of thesound box. The cover plate is formed vwith a ianged opening 16, andcommunicatin' "therewith lis theA end of a sound tube 17 he grain 18, ofthe Wood of the diaphragm is as near straight as can be secured, andpreferably runs in line with the stylus lever, and is suitably coated toprotect it from atmospheric changes. On one or both faces of thediaphragm I place a modifying element or elements 20, the surroundingedges and the outer face of each element being entirely free, and eachelement is wholly disconnected from the other, except through thediaphragm.

The. stylus bar 21, and lever 22, are preferably formed of hard rubberor similar composition, and in one piece. The internal soundnon-conductive qualities of this material are well known, and it is mypurpose in using it to suppress those sound vibrations which tend tocause buzzing or like unnatural conditions when reproducing a voice or aplece of music. While 1t is true this material is effective insuppressing the unnatural vlbratlons, 1t 1s also truel that the morenatural and essential vibrations of the selection being reproduced, are,accurately and minutely produced, resulting in what may be termed thehighest quality of sound.

lThe stylus bar 21, is formed at its ends with two conical depressions2li- 24, into which fit the ends of conical journals 25 and 26. Thejournal 25, is in the form of a screw seated in a threaded vopening inthe bearing 5, while the journal 26, is cup shaped to receive ya spring27, bearing at its opposite end in a seat in an adjusting screw 28,working in the threaded end of an opening in the bearing 4. Bearing 4,is split at its free end for the free passage of the journal 26, and ascrew 30, in the ends of said bearing, serves to X the stylus bar inposition after it has been adjusted. The stylus lever 22, is in linewith .the stylus 32, and passes through opening 2, and as before statedis preferably of hard rubber and formed with the stylus bar.

I have found it to be quite essential to provide a single adjustingmeans exterior of the sound box to alter the pitch of the diaphragm,that each record may be reproduced, in accord with the original. Thismeans consists preferably of a rod 31,l

swiveled in the center of the spider 13, vand having at its outer endthreads 34, engaging a threaded opening 35, in the sound tube 17. .Y

The outer end ofthe rod is formed with a. head piecel 36, and providedwith a dial plate 36a. The dial plate 36a, is fastened to thehead piece36, by a screw 36", passing into a threaded opening in the rod 31.v Onthe face of the dial plate are arbitrary indicating marks, each markrepresenting a. determined pitch, and opposite the marks are indications36, with which a springpressed locking device 36d coperates to hold theparts in set p osition after theyhave been screw 36", is screwed intoplace to bind the dial plate to the head piece 36. The stop will limitthe movement of the rod and prevent the diaphragm being clamped tootight.

50 indicates a hinge connection between the stylus lever and thediaphragm which permits vibration of the parts without binding. Thisconnection consists of a headed screw 51, passed through an opening inthe diaphragm and provided on its inner end with a nut 52, and a link53, engaging an opening in the head of the screw, and a slot 54, intheend ofthe stylus lever.

In Fig. 6, 56, indicates sectional rubber tubing in place of beveledwaslers shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The modifying element may be made in various ways, and is of suchmaterial as will permit of its being shaved down, or peeled to reduceits dimensions. As shown in the preferred embodiment of the invention asingle piece, preferably wood, is employed, but this may not be ofsufficient area to meet the requirements with a diaphragm having a lowpitch. I, therefore may use a tuning eleprovided with one or moregrooves or weak points Llli-45, so that if it is found a llarge area isnecessary little trimming will be required, but if the larger area isnot wanted such trimmingwill be effected by breaking the element at thevgrooves, and then trimming it down to obtain sufficient elasticity ofthis diaphragm to `produce the desired resu ts.

By placing a strip of wood on a thin wooden diaphragm, which has beenpreviously treated to resist atmospheric changes, several, importantvresults are accomplished. Each diaphragm is different from vthe other,and the peculiarities are determined in each instance by testing, and tomake each diaphragh produce and transmit sound vibrations naturally in;tune and in unison with a standard, it is quite essential that thegrain,.and the 'requisite thickness of wood be carefully considered. Ifind that a thicka pitch below 'the original sound, and then by placingupon the` surface thereof one or more pieces or strips of wood ofdimensions in excess of requirements, and gradually remove fractionalportions thereof, guided of course by sound4 tests, until the reproducedsound is in accord withitheforiginal. This' construction will permit ofthe diaphragmA being made larg'er than is' now the custom, because thetuning element may be so regulated as to make the result affective inproportion to its size The regulation of the active dlameter of thediaphragm is quite essential to alter its pitch which contributes toproduce the result obtained With my invention. Therefore, I utilize thebeveled Washers and the adjusting means to uniformly, and by oneoperation increase or. decrease the dlmensions of the active surface ofthe diaphraggns, which of course, alters the properties of the soundemitted. This feature is of the utmost importance because of thefactthat a particular record may require a greater or less active diaphragmsurface to produce the quality of sound, and must be arranged to beregulated in a convenient and quick manner.

While I have described specifically the special parts Which contributeto make up a sound box for the production of, and preserving theessential quality of sound, nevertheless, the combined action of thesestructural details coperate to bring about the desired result. h

So far as l am aware, l am the pioneer 1n the art, using a Woodendiaphragm and permanently modifying it to get the best results, and yetproviding means for regulating the pitch and harmony of s ound produced.By tests and' actual practice, have found it absolutely necessary toobtaln the best quality of sound, to modify the diaphragm to be inaccord with the horn.

'In F ig. 16, a stylus lever is shown, composed of metal and rubber orlike material. 70 represents the metal stylus bar.; 71, a rubber styluslever; 72, rubber bearings 1n the stylus bar, and 7 8, a rubber stylusholder.

While l have described what I regard as the preferably details ofconstruction to cooperate With each other to produce the best result, itWill be obvious minor changes may be made Without departing from thespirit and scope of my invention. For instance the stylus bar may beformed in part or complete in metal; the fulcrums of the same may beprovided with springs; the diaphragm may be constructed of any material,and the pitch adjustment may be omitted. Either of the changes oromissions noted may be made to produce a particular result with a givenrecord.

It is to be understood that the improvements herein described are to beused in connection with a diaphragm for reproducing or recordingpurposes.

What I claim is:

l. A sound box having a wooden diaphra-gm, a stylus lever and bar, and amodifying element located across the grain of the Wooden diaphragm. y

2. A sound box having a Wooden diavdiaphragm and Wholly phragm coatedWith a hardening solution, a modifying element secured to the coatedface of the diaphragm and across the grain stylus lever andbarcoperating therewith,v

bearings for the stylus bar, one of said bearings being spring pressed,a regulating screw operating to compress or release the spring in linewith the stylus bar, and means for fixing the position of the regulatingscrew. t

6. A sound box having a diaphragm, a stylus--lever and bar coperatingtherewith, bearings for the stylus bar, one of said hearings beingspringpressed, means operating to compress or release the spring in line withthe stylus bar, land means for fixing the position of the former means.

7. A sound box having a Wooden diaphragm, modilied by a strip vattacheddiametrically thereto and across the grain of the diaphragm, and astylus lever and bar of one piece of hard rubber.

8. In combination, a sound box having a cover, a sound tubecommunicating with the rear of the sound box, a diaphragm, resilientWashers bearing on the diaphragm, a spider on the inside of the soundbox and bearing on one of the resilient Washers, a rod extending fromthe spider and through the tube for adjusting said spider, and a bearingformed inthe sound tube to receive the rod.

9. A sound box having a wooden diaphragm With its grain running parallelWith the stylus lever, a stylus bar and lever formed of a single pieceof hardrubber, and a modif-ying element secured across the grain of thediaphragm.

l0. The combination With a sound box provided with a diaphragm, a styluslever and bar formed of one piece of hard rubber. a. modifying elementon the diaphragm, a cover formed with an opening and secured to thesound box, a sound tube secured to the cover, Washers, and a rod passingthrough the sound tube to regulate the pressure of the Washers on thediaphragm. 'l

ll. A sound box having a diaphragm With a modifying element attachedthereto, anda stylus lever attached directly to said disconnected fromthe modifying element except through the diaphragm. l

12. A sound box having a diaphragm prolOO llO

- \and stopping short of said casing.

vided with a series of diametrically disposed modifying elements, and astylus lever and bar formed of one piece of hard rubber and attacheddirectly to` the diaphragm and Wholly disconnected from themodifyingelements.

13. A sound box having a diaphragm, a grooved modifying elementcoperating with the diaphragm, and a stylus lever at-4 tached directlyto the diaphragm.

14. A sound box having a diaphragm with a series of modifying elementsdisposed on opposite sides of a stylus lever, and a stylus leverdirectly attached to said diaphragm at a point between the series ofmodifying elements and Wholly disconnected from the stylus leverexceptthrough the diaphragm.

15. A sound box having a diaphragm, a modifying element formed of Woodand attached to the face of the diaphragm to tune said diaphragm, and astylus lever attached directly to the diaphragm but Wholly disconnectedfrom lthe'modifying element except through the diaphragm,

16. A sound box having a diaphragm modified by elements attached .to itsface, a stylus lever directly attached to the diaphragm, Washers onopposite sides of the diaphragm and having their adjacent faces beveledand means for compressing the Washers to cause their beveled faces togradually engage the diaphragm from its edge toward its center to changethe pitch.

17. A sound box having a casing and a diaphragm, a stylus lever, andmodifying strips on the diaphragm, said strips being dif'sconnectedfromeach other and from the stylus lever except through the diaphragm 18. Adiaphragm having modifying elements attached thereto, said modifyingelements being attached to the surface of the diaphragm and having theiredges and one face free, and va stylus lever attached directly to thediaphragm.

19. A diaphragm modified by strips suf' l ficiently thick to be reducedlafter having been applied to the diaphragm, each of said strips havingan attaching surface which extends throughout the'vvhole of its length,and a stylus lever attached directly to the diaphragm and Whollydisconnected from the modifying strips.

20.v A diaphragm modified by a strip subdivided by grooves.

21. A Wooden diaphragm modified by diametrically arranged modifyingstrips in dependent of and Wholly disconnected from each other, exceptthrough the diaphragm, and a stylus lever attached to the diaphragm.

Wooden diaphragm modified by a. Wooden strip, Vsaid Wooden strip beingvspaced at one end ironia stylus lever, and terminating at its oppositeend short of the edge of the diaphragm, and a stylus lever attacheddirectly to the'diaphragm.

23. A diaphragm modified byv strips -at- Atached to its face, each striedges and onefaee free and eing Wholly having its flexible diaphragmhaving attached thereto a flexible modifying element having a surface tobe attached to the diaphragm and designed to be reduced after havingbeen applied to said diaphragm for modifying the sound given out by thelatter, the modifying elementbeing secured to the diaphragm throughoutthe whole of its attaching surface, and a stylus lever for vibrating thediaphragm and the modifying element.

26. A diaphragm having a series of modifying elements attached to itssurface, said elements being composed of material adapted to be reducedafter having been attached on the diaphragm for the purpose of modifyingthe tone of the diaphragm down to a standard, each element beingdisconnected from the other except through the diaphragm;

27. A sound box comprising a casing, a flexible diaphragm havingattached thereto a flexible modifying element Wholly disconnected` fromthe casing and having a surface to be attached to the diaphragm anddesigned to be reduced after having been applied to said diaphragm tomodify the sound given out by the latter, the modifying element beingsecured to the diaphragm throughout the Whole of its attaching sul'-face, and a stylus lever for vibrating the diaphragm and the modifyingelement.

28. A sound box comprisingadiaphragm, a stylus lever, and modifyingelements secured to the diaphragm in series each side the stylus lever,said modifying elements being' spaced from each other and whollydisconnected from each other except through the diaphragm.

`29. A diaphragm having attached to it a plurality of modifying elementsalined with each other and also spaced from each other and Whollydisconnected from each other'except through the diaphragm, eachmodifying elementbeing located between a .modied by a strip attachedthereto, the

outer edges and one face of the strip being free, and a pivoted styluslever of non- -metallic material attached directly to the diaphragm and.Wholly disconnected from 15 the modifying strip.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HENRY C. MILLER.

Y Vitnesses:

WM. F..PALMER, GEO. L. RICHARD.

